Top 5 Janus Henderson Mutual Funds for Your Retirement Account

Janus Henderson Investors is a global asset manager and subsidiary of U.K.-based Janus Henderson Group PLC (JHG). The firm provides active investment management services across all major asset classes and all major global markets. It offers hundreds of funds, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and managed accounts. Janus Henderson has $401.6 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of Dec. 31, 2020.

The firm offers nine mutual funds available for retirement plans and open to new investors. That list does not include ETFs. Shares of these funds are institutional shares accessible through a 401(k) (shares available to retail investors are comparatively more expensive). We look at the top five of these mutual funds ranked by their 20-year trailing total returns. Investors should note that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but the performance figures below demonstrate the funds' past track records. All information in the profile data lists (below) for each fund is from YCharts, except where indicated.

Janus Henderson VIT Global Technology and Innovation Portfolio Institutional Class (JGLTX)

• 20-Year Trailing Total Return: 789.8%
• 10-Year Trailing Total Return: 545.4%
• 5-Year Trailing Total Return: 298.5% 
• 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 78.2% 
• Expense Ratio: 0.75%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): $798.8 million  
• Dividend Yield: 0.0%
• Fund Inception Date: Jan. 18, 2000

JGLTX is a global growth portfolio managed by Denny Fish, who has been with the firm since 2016. The fund is focused on companies that create and benefit from technological advancements. The fund says that it seeks to invest in companies with a culture of innovation, long-term focus, and an attractive relative valuation. The fund also takes smaller positions in companies that have optionality, which means long potential upside under a specific scenario. The portfolio is heavily weighted toward large-cap stocks in the U.S. information technology (IT) sector. Its top three holdings include: Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), a leading provider of software, devices, and cloud services, comprising 9.6% of the portfolio; Apple Inc. (AAPL), a leader in mobile phones, computers, and streaming entertainment and other services, comprising 5.7%; and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), a Taiwan-based multinational semiconductor manufacturer, comprising 5.3%.

Janus Henderson VIT Forty Portfolio Institutional Class (JACAX)

• 20-Year Trailing Total Return: 778.7%
• 10-Year Trailing Total Return: 397.3%
• 5-Year Trailing Total Return: 184.0% 
• 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 65.4% 
• Expense Ratio: 0.77%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): $1.1 billion  
• Dividend Yield: 0.28%
• Fund Inception Date: May 1, 1997

JACAX is a large-cap growth portfolio managed by Doug Rao and Nick Schommer, both of whom joined the company in 2013. The fund says it seeks to invest in companies with strong growth potential that are also leaders in innovation and change. The majority of the portfolio's 38 holdings operate within the IT, communication services, consumer discretionary, or healthcare sectors. It is heavily weighted toward U.S. large-caps. The fund's top three holdings include: Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the e-commerce and cloud services giant, comprising 8.1% of the portfolio; Microsoft, which comprises 7.9%; and Mastercard Inc. (MA), the global payments services company, comprising 5.8%.

Janus Henderson VIT Enterprise Portfolio Institutional Class (JAAGX)

• 20-Year Trailing Total Return: 706.4%
• 10-Year Trailing Total Return: 315.0%
• 5-Year Trailing Total Return: 143.7% 
• 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 64.2% 
• Expense Ratio: 0.72%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): $1.7 billion  
• Dividend Yield: 0.13%
• Fund Inception Date: Sept. 13, 1993

JAAGX is a mid-cap growth fund managed by Brian Demain and Philip Cody Wheaton. Demain joined the firm in 1999, Wheaton two years later in 2001. The fund focuses on small-cap and mid-cap companies in the U.S. equity market. Within this group, the fund seeks companies with strong competitive advantages, large addressable markets, and the potential for sustainable growth. The sectors receiving the largest weightings are IT, healthcare, and industrials. The portfolio's top three holdings include: KLA Corp. (KLAC), a semiconductor producer, comprising 2.9% of the portfolio; Microchip Technology Inc. (MCHP), a provider of semiconductor products, comprising 2.7%; and LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (LPLA), a provider of brokerage and investment advisory services, comprising 2.4%.

Janus Henderson VIT Balanced Portfolio Institutional Class (JABLX)

• 20-Year Trailing Total Return: 394.1%
• 10-Year Trailing Total Return: 162.2%
• 5-Year Trailing Total Return: 83.7% 
• 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 32.1% 
• Expense Ratio: 0.62%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): $6.8 billion  
• Dividend Yield: 1.61%
• Fund Inception Date: Sept. 13, 1993

JABLX is a balanced equity and fixed-income portfolio managed by Jeremiah Buckley, Greg Wilensky, and Michael Keough. Buckley joined the firm in 1998, Keough in 2007, and Wilensky in 2020. The fund, which is heavily weighted towards U.S. large-cap assets, seeks strong risk-adjusted returns but can defensively reposition ahead of market volatility. JABLX will adjust asset allocations that may vary between equity holdings of 35% to 65% depending on market conditions. Its largest equity weighting is in the IT sector and its largest fixed-income weighting is investment grade bonds. Its top three holdings include: Microsoft, which comprises 5.0% of the portfolio; Apple, which comprises 3.3%; and Google parent Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), a multinational technology company, which comprises 3.1%.

Janus Henderson VIT Research Portfolio Institutional Class (JAGRX)

• 20-Year Trailing Total Return: 393.8%
• 10-Year Trailing Total Return: 295.4%
• 5-Year Trailing Total Return: 140.5% 
• 1-Year Trailing Total Return: 60.0% 
• Expense Ratio: 0.59%
• Assets Under Management (AUM): $630.1 million  
• Dividend Yield: 0.35%
• Fund Inception Date: Sept. 13, 1993

JAGRX is a U.S. large-cap growth fund managed by the Janus Henderson Central Research Team, which is overseen by the Portfolio Oversight Team headed by Director of Research Matt Peron. Peron joined the firm in 2020. The portfolio is constructed based on the best ideas from each of the firm's global research sector teams. It is focused on companies with brand power, enduring business models, and strong competitive positioning. The majority of the fund's holdings operate within the IT, healthcare, and consumer discretionary sectors of the U.S. equity market. Its top three holdings include: Apple, which comprises 9.0% of the portfolio; Microsoft, which comprises 8.2%; and Amazon, which comprises 7.3%.